Rev. Austin Miles, a chaplain in Northern California is a writer and historian. He is the author of Santa's Surprising Origins, a
story that received worldwide circulation and resulted in him being cast in the 2004 Hallmark Christmas Movie titled, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus. He
played the mall Santa who magically received the gift of sign language.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has named Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his VP. Pence is notable among social conservatives. In 2008, as a Congressman from Indiana, he was a recipient of the “Christian Statesman of the Year” award from the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship in DC.

I had the privilege of doing a television interview for the broadcast ministry of Dr. D. James Kennedy in the same month as the historic 2010 mid-term elections, which favored conservatives. Here are portions of that 11/30/10 interview. This is Mike Pence in his own words.

On the Expansion of the Executive Branch
“I’m someone who believes that not only is this president off track, but I believe the presidency itself is off track. And I don’t think that that’s unique to this administration, although it’s been most exaggerated by the current occupant of the oval office. It’s my belief that when the founders designed the presidency, that it was principally about restraint. The chief executive of our national government was put into a position to be that advocate of the American people to essentially restrain the growth of government, to protect the rights and liberties of the people… to bring an attitude of a servant leader to the country.”

On the Problem of Judicial Activism
“I think the purpose of the courts and every other branch of government is to practice faith with that written document as written, and that the very principle of limited government begins with believing that the founders meant what they said and said what they meant. Courts ought not to be in the business of legislating from the bench.”

On Funding Planned Parenthood
“I think millions of Americans would find it offensive to know that the largest abortion provider in America is also the largest recipient of federal funding under Title 10.”

On Repealing Obamacare
“I am of the view that House Republicans cannot rest until we repeal Obamacare lock, stock, and barrel. [Obamacare] is legislation that crosses a previously uncrossed constitutional line. It actually mandates that Americans purchase health insurance whether they want it or need it or not….I just think it’s imperative that we scrap the bill and start over with health care reform that lowers the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government.”

On our National Debt
“I think it is simply morally wrong to continue to pile a mountain range of debt on our children and grandchildren because we are unwilling to make the hard choices today to put our fiscal house in order…we’re on the verge today of leaving our children and grandchildren a less prosperous America than the one that we were born into. And we cannot allow that to stand.”

On America’s Lurch toward Socialism
“It’s my belief that as we look at America today, as we look at this struggling economy, there are people that [promote] the expansion of federal government under both political parties in recent years. And I think there is concern that we are moving farther and farther in the direction of a different kind of economy, more familiar among the social welfare state of Europe today.”

On the Impact of Socialism
“When I was 18 years old, I had the privilege of visiting then occupied West Berlin. I traveled through Checkpoint Charlie with my brother. Now, West Berlin was this bristling city, it was bright and the stores were filled, the streets were bustling with people. In every sense in the late 1970s, it was a vibrant American city. And then we walked passed the tank traps and the barbed wire up to the Berlin Wall; and we went through Checkpoint Charlie, passed the glare of the East German guards and we walked into East Berlin, which was a completely different place. Gone were the bright lights of West Berlin, and replacing them was the drab grey leftover remains of a hollowed out East Berlin. It was an extraordinary moment in my life. The cars were vintage 1950s; everyone seemed to be wearing the same colorless apparel. And I saw for the first time in my life as a young man of 18 years the difference between the products of a free market society and a socialist state controlled economy. It was a bright line contrast. And where I see America today is I think we’re on that wall between east and west. “

Concluding Thought
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to embrace policies and elect leaders who are willing to lead our country back to the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, of free market, entrepreneurial capitalism. And if we do that, then I believe we’ll have a balanced future.”
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Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is an on-air host/senior producer for D. James Kennedy Ministries. He has written/co-written 26 books, including The Book That Made America, Doubting Thomas (w/ Mark Beliles, on Jefferson), and What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (w/ D. James Kennedy) & George Washington’s Sacred Fire (w/ Peter Lillback). djameskennedy.org @newcombejerry

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